A SERIAL rapist dubbed ‘The Hacker’, who struck in Oxfordshire while on the run from Brazil, has been jailed for 13-and-a-half years.

Cristian Pereira was yesterday described as “an extremely ruthless, predatory and dangerous man” who carefully picked his victims using Facebook.

Prosecutor Michael Roques said the 31-year-old hacked phones and email accounts in his home country and tricked a woman into meeting him so he could rape her.

And on April 29 this year he committed two further rapes and a sexual assault on a track near Stoney Lane, Little Haseley, after luring a 19-year-old student into his car.

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In a powerful personal statement read out in court, the young woman told her rapist: “You didn’t break me, you only made me stronger.”

Mr Roques said Pereira posed as a female au pair called Tais Bottecchia on Facebook and joined a group where he found his victim, as well as contacting three other women. 

The barrister said he met the student by offering her a lift to Heathrow Airport and tricked her into getting into his car by saying he would take her to meet Tais. 

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The scene of the attack

He then drove her to a “remote location” in the countryside and raped her twice, using violence and threats to make her obey him, Mr Roques said. 

The prosecutor added: “She tried to get away and fight him off, but he was aggressive and able to overpower her. 

“He hit her, pulled her hair and said he would let her live if she did what he said.” 

Mr Roques said after her ordeal was over the woman escaped from Pereira when his car broke down. 

He added: “It is the prosecution’s case that this was anything but an opportunistic offence. 

“The defendant used a significant degree of planning to target young women. 

“It also seems very clear that he was planning on leaving the area and, or the country following the offence.” 

The barrister said Pereira had an Italian ID card and passport, £3,000 in cash and all his personal belongings with him in his car when he was arrested. 

Mr Roques told Judge Ian Pringle the defendant was on bail at the time, having been arrested for a suspected sexual assault – at the exact same location – which he was not prosecuted for. 

He said Pereira was also on the run from Brazil, where he was known as “The Hacker” after he hacked a woman’s mobile phone to message her friend, saying she should become friends with him on Facebook. 

The barrister said: “It was a remarkably similar MO (modus operandi). 

“(After meeting his victim) he took her mobile phone from her, started to threaten her and sexually assaulted her. 

“Then he took his car to a remote location and raped her, while recording it on his mobile phone.” 

Defence barrister Benjamin Narain told the court his client’s best mitigation was his prompt guilty plea that prevented the victim from having to come to court to give evidence. 

Mr Roques said Pereira was sentenced to 13-and-a-half years in prison in Brazil after being convicted in his absence in 2012. 

He said he would be deported to serve that sentence when he is released from prison in the UK. 

Passing sentence at Oxford Crown Court Judge Pringle told Pereira: “Your behaviour that day was utterly unspeakable and would fill the vast majority of people in this country with horror. 

“I have no doubt in finding you to be a dangerous individual. 

“It is difficult to imagine a worse case than this. You have no remorse for what you did. 

“And anyone hearing the victim’s impact statement would have admiration for her strength that she has shown.” 

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Det Insp Louise Roddy

Senior investigating officer, Detective Inspector Louise Roddy, said: “I am pleased with the sentence result which prevents an extremely dangerous man being able to commit any more horrendous crimes. 

“My absolute admiration goes to the victim, who has managed to start rebuilding her life due to her strength of character and determination.” 

Adrian Foster, of the CPS, said: “This was a planned, targeted and violent stranger rape. Pereira is clearly an extremely ruthless, predatory and dangerous man. 

“This prosecution would not have been possible without the courage of the victim who was willing to support proceedings.” 

Lisa Ward, director of the Oxford Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre – which Pereira’s victim thanked for helping her –  said anyone who needs to can contact the service at oxfordrapecrisis.net

Pereira will serve two thirds of his sentence in custody and will then spend an extra three-and-a-half years on licence. 

The victim's statement

In her personal statement Pereira’s victim said: “It was the most horrible day of my life. 

“After it had ended I felt broken and hopeless. I felt my life was in pieces and I was too weak to put them back together. 

“But for me that is not what this day stands for. 

“It is the day that made me realise that I am strong. That I am a fighter, that I love life with all my heart and no one can take that away from me. 

“I am just beyond grateful that I am still alive – each day has become a gift to me. 

“Rape can break you, it can destroy you, but with the right support you can recover and you can become stronger than you ever were before.” 
And to Pereira she said: “You didn’t break me, you only made me stronger.”

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